Yoga is a spiritual practice that originated in india, and continues to be a living tradition that is seen as the means to enlightenment Yoga produces the union of body and soul. it is the union of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. the individual soul, when it is purified (freed from lust, greed, hatred and egoism)it becomes one with the Supreme Soul. The practice of yoga is a definite way to accelerate the process of our transition into higher beings of the transcendental realms. Practiced for countless years different techniques of yoga have evolved.

The Purpose of Yoga

the purpose of yoga is to lead to a silence of the mind. This silence is the condition for the mind to be able to accurately reflect objective reality without its own subjective distortion. Yoga does not create this reality, but only prepares the mind to understand it, by helping in the transformation of the mind – from an ordinary mind full of distraction to a still mind.
The Phliosophy of yoga is a universal philosophy that allows the practioner to pursue his or her own path to enlightenment, depending on personality and inclination.

Integrate the Body and Mind

The term Yoga comes from the root yuj, "yoke or join." This root suggests that Yoga is the means to integrate and join the body with the mind and reach the state of divine consciousness. Through yoga, one can achieve perfection of the physical, mental and lower selves and prepare ones journey into higher consciousness through the awakening of the kundalini (dormant energy) and other underlying powers. it unites your attention with its source, everyday awareness with the source of consciousness. Purely as a physical exercise yoga can aid us in keeping our bodies and minds in perfect balance and at peace. The practice of yoga is a definite way to accelerate the process of our transition into higher beings of the transcendental realms.

Sankhya & Yoga

Sankhya provides a basic theoretical explination of human nature, defining elements, analyzing mannerisms of coperation in the state of bondage (bandha), and describing their state of disentanglement or separation in release (moksha).the branch of Sankhya says that everything in the always changing universe comes from prakriti (energy). Prakriti is the energy that exists forever in all demensions of eternity. It has three modes called gunas. A guna is one of the three modes in which energy operates: active, inert, balenced.
Yoga treats specifically of the dynamics of the process of disentanglement, and gives techniques for getting release. The two systems in other words supplement each other and conduce to the identical goal.
the branch of Sankhya says that everything in the always changing universe comes from prakriti (energy). Prakriti is the energy that exists forever in all demensions of eternity. It has three modes called gunas. A guna is one of the three modes in which energy operates: active, inert, balenced.

Balancing the Gunas-
Liberation of the Soul, Types of Gunas

A Yoga Lifestyle

Asceticism, Samadhi

Yoga Principles

Fulfilling Darma

fullfilling your purpose and doing exactally what you were ment to do, ethically and the best to your copacity. Hindus practice yoga to let them live and have a correct life

Physical Vs. Mental

Yoga is practiced for both its physical benefits as well as mental. It is used to gain physical strength, flexibility, and calming. After practicing yoga, one feels exercised but relaxed and rejuvenated. It also helps open your mind and make you less distracted. While practicing yoga, one feels focused, calm, and collected. In the west, many practice yoga without its spiritual side as a form of exercise.

The Connection Between
Yoga and Hinduism

Usually humans are lost in their own confused thought and feeling, but when Yoga is grasped the personal consciousness becomes stilled and it is then possible for the embodied spirit to know itself as apart from distractions and to become aware of its own nature. Yoga accelerates spiritual development and brings on a deep state of serenity and ultimately, communion with God and nature. Yoga is the union of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. The individual soul, when it is purified, when it is freed from lust, greed, hatred and egoism, it becomes one with the Supreme Soul. Hindus have a sacred purpose in mind when they practice yoga and they use the morals and methods of yoga to lead a good life and complete their darma.

Complementary

Yoga is an essential part of the Hindu religion. In hinduism yoga and religion are complementary. yoga is seen as self realization and religion is based more on culture, values, belifes and ritual. They must have eachother to be complete
The ultimate goal of yoga is to be free from worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death. Yoga includes mastery over the body, mind, and emotional self, and the abandonment of desire. It leads gradually to knowledge of the true nature of reality. The Yogi reaches an enlightened state where there is a stop of thought and an experience of blissful combination. This union may be of the individual soul (Atman) with the supreme Reality (Brahman), as in Vedanta philosophy; or with a specific god or goddess, as in theistic forms of Hinduism. Enlightenment may also be described as elimination of the restricted self opinion, and direct and lasting awareness of the whole nature of the universe.

Increasing One's Love for God

For the average person still far from enlightenment, yoga can be a way of increasing one's love for God, or refining compassion and knowlegde. While the history of yoga strongly connects it with Hinduism, some claim that yoga is not a religion itself, but has practical steps which can benefit people of all religions, as well as those who do not consider themselves religious."

Yoga and the Philosophy of God

Acording to yoga god is the devine conciousness that never fell into matter when the universe first formed. God has always existed outside time and space but is so gracious he sometimes helps us in our efforts to escape the fast paced life.

The Vedas

Continuity

Cosmic Evolution

Meditation

The Paths of Yoga

The aim of Yoga is the transformation of human beings from their natural form to a perfected form. Yoga is a specific sensible method of spiritual training which dates to ancient times. The methods have been increasingly developed and experimented through the centuries. Yoga is one of the many paths leading to release. It takes on many forms and techniques. It is a practice for salvation. Throughout the long history of yoga, different subdivisions have arose have emerged. It is common to speak of each form of yoga as a "path" to enlightenment. to reachenlightenment yoga may include love and devotion (as in Bhakti Yoga), selfless work (as in Karma Yoga), knowledge and discernment (as in Jnana Yoga), or an eight-limbed system of disciplines emphasizing meditation (as in Raja/Hatha Yoga). These practices make up a continuum of religion and [ractical values They do not have be exclusive. (A person who follows the path of selfless work might also cultivate some knowledge and devotion.) Some people (particularly in Western cultures) pursue yoga as exercise divorced from spiritual practice.

Karma-The Path of Selfless Action

Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Karma yoga focuses on the devotion to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. One can experience salvation or love of God by performing their duties in an unselfish manner for the enjoyment of the Supreme, which is the welfare of the world. The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, meaning 'to do', karma simply means action, and yoga translates to union. Karma yoga literally translates to the path of enlightenment through action. It is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one's duty (dharma) without consideration of personal selfish desires, likes or dislikes. Acting without being attached to the rewards of one's deeds.

Karma Yoga and Trensendence

What is Karma?

Raja-The Path of Meditation

Raja Yoga is Royal Yoga. It deals directly with the mind. In Raja Yoga there is no struggling with the physical body. the yogi is at ease, watches his mind and silences the thoughts. He stills the mind, restraints the thought-waves and enters into the thoughtless state. Raja Yoga helps the student reach realization of eternity and communion with god. Raja Yoga pushes the meditator to the highest spiritual state of Advaitic realization of Brahman.

Raja Meditation, The Obsticles of Meditation

States of Mind

The 8 Limbs

Jnana-The Path of Wisdom

Jnana means knowlege. The main purpose of jnana meditation is to withdraw the mind and emotions from perceiving life and oneself in a basic way so that one may have and live in harmony with Reality, or God.
Even though the mind can never know the full truth because the truth is too large and the brain is too small, your knowledge can help you "propel inner awareness into the vast, still cosmos of consciousness". In other words, your brain cannot know everything, but it can help you get moving in the right direction.
Enlightenment can happen suddenly or can come on slowly.

Requirements to Fallow Jnana

The Principle

Levels of Enlightenment, Level One, Level Two, Level Three

Jnana Yogis, Problems That Can Arise

Hatha-The Path of Physical Purification

Hatha Yoga is a branch of Yoga that is a preliminary stage of physical purification to make the body fit for developing for higher meditation.Traditional Hatha Yoga is a spiritual yogic path, with moral disciplines, physical postures, cleansing procedures, yogic breathing and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists of mostly poses understood as physical exercises. It is also recognized as a stress-reducing practice.

Creation by Shiva

Balancing Opposing Energies

Samadhi

Raja and Hatha

Asanas

Prana, Pranayama

Mudra

Bhakti-The Path of Love and Devotion

Bhakti Yoga is the supreme devotion to the Lord. Bhakti is intense attachment to God who is the Indweller in all beings and the support and relief for all beings. Bhakti yoga is union through love or devotion. It teaches the rules of love, for it is the science of the higher love; it teaches how to direct and use love and how to give it a new object, how to obtain from it the highest and most magnificent outcome, which is the attainment of spiritual bliss.

The Term Bhakti

The Development of Love

Types of Bhakti, Sakamya, Nishkamya, Para

The Enemy of Devotion

The Result of Bhakti

Bhavas, Types of Bhavas, Shanta, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya, Madhurya

Cultivating Bhakti

Books and Yogis

Yogi

A yogi is someone who practices yoga, The female equivalent of a yogi is a yogini. Usually, these names are only used to describe masters and teachers of the area, and they practice numerous aspects of yoga. Many famous yogis have developed their own special interpretations of yoga traditions, and they teach them to disciples who are interested in expanding their spiritual practice.
A yogi is very focused on inward development through asceticism, meditation, contemplation, and manipulation of physical energy. Yogis often dress and live simply as part of their ascetic values, and they spend a great deal of time in deprivation and meditation to ponder the divine.
In many cases, a skilled practitioner of yoga will lead others along their own spiritual journeys. A yogi in this position may become socially prominent or revered, but this is not supposed to interfere with his spiritual practice.
A yogi is generally treated with adoration and respect in Indian society. Various schools have their own etiquette when it comes to yogis.